Vending machine



y 1941' o. GARNER ET AL 2,

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1939 5 Sheets -Sheet 1 JAM/v70: 5 [0e 0. 6010/0510 5120 270/0251 May 13, 1941. LI 0. GARNER ETAL 2,241,662

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 0 [/v/flvroza' Joe 0. Gale/vex. F1650 #007251 May 13,1941.

L. 0. GARNER ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed y 51; 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I'M/c7772 a Gee/vac 9/5850 May 13, 1941.

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1.. o. GARNER'ET AL ,241,662

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 4 .Z'MKeW/cm; .106 a. 645M616 y o. GARNER ET AL 2,241,552

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 jl ViN/ob; Ave 0. Gwen/:4 f/rzo /ya/Yfe'5/ Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT 7 OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for dispensing packages or articles, particularly such as bottles, and to means for cooling the articles prior to dispensing them.

The invention further relates to the structure of the cabinet and the manner of mounting the article carrier therein, to the means by which the carrier is advanced; to a related storage compartment; to means for supporting this storage compartment; and to means for obtaining joint access to both carrier and storage compartment for restocking them.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide a dispensing apparatus having a carrier in which a large number of articles to be dispensed may be carried, and means for advancing this carrier step by step.

To provide means for preventing advancement of the carrier by other than the designated advancing means.

To provide means for limiting the movement of the carrier at any one operation to a single step advancement.

To provide a dispensing apparatus having a casing adapted to enclose a pair of dispensing carriers, together with means within said casing for rotatably supporting both carriers for independent actuation and movement.

To provide dispensing apparatus having a casing which encloses a pair of dispensing carriers mounted for independent movement and actuation and a related storage chamber for each of the carriers, and particularly to provide in such a casing independent doors giving access respectively each to a storage chamber and its related dispensing carrier.

To provide an otherwise similar apparatus having a casing enclosing a single carrier and storage chamber.

To provide a dispensing apparatus in which the 'undispensed stock, both in storage and in the dispensing carrier, is fully visible from an external point.

- To provide means for receiving the discharge from either of a pair of carriers and for orienting and delivering the package in desired position.

. To provide in a dispensing apparatus means displaceable by and during article discharge, for sealing the casing at the point where delivery of the article from the casing occurs, against ingress and egress of air except during such dis charge.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a casing taken as on the line II of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional elevation on the line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken as on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan taken onthe line VV of- Fig.1; and

Fig. 6 a sectional elevation taken 'on the line VIVI of Fig. 4. V

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the casing.

Referring now to the drawings in Whichthe various parts are indicated by numerals:

The machine comprises a casing In which is here shown having walls insulated against heat exchange. The casing preferably has a top H which may be removed to permit access to the working mechanism primarily for adjusting such mechanism, but which is ordinarily secured in place as by screws l2. The casing also has on its opposite sides doors l3 and I4 each of which may be attached as by hinges l5, and when closed secured as by a lock I6. Each of the doors has a glass panel I! through which the interior of the casing is visible, the oppositely disposed doors making the interior visible from both sides. i8 is the front of the casing through which delivery of the articles is effected. The casing may be supported by a box-like enclosure 20 in which suitable refrigerating mechanism may be enclosed, this mechanism being of usual and well known type and not necessarily here described, although it is outlined in Fig. 1.

Disposed within the casing is a. frame which may be made up of angle iron members and preferably includes transverse bottom members 2|, 22,and transverse top members 23, 24. Extending diagonally upward from the transverse bottom member 2| to the transverse top member 24 are a pair of angle-iron members 25 which are positioned with their horizontal legs upward and their vertical legs extending downward and backward from the horizontal legs. These angle irons are preferably secured to the transverse bottom member 2| and the transverse top member 24 as by welding, and constitute an axle support. 2'! are angle iron frame members which extend from the transverse top frame member 23 to the similar transverse member 24 and are rigidly secured thereto.

At approximately the mid point lengthwise, of the angle irons 25, a transversely disposed axle is rigidly secured as by U bolts 3!, or it may be attached as by welding if it be so desired. The opposite end portions of this axle 3ilA and 3ilB extend toward the approximate centers of the glass panels i! of the two doors. Mounted on the end portions 3EA and 39-13 are a pair of flanges 32 which are secured against turning as by set screws 33. Disposed around the flanges 32 are sleeves 34. Each of the sleeves 34 at its inner end is secured as by welding to an annular disc 35. 36 are larger sleeves which are secured as by welding to, and extend outward from, the peripheries of the discs 35, the inner sleeves 34, outer sleeves 3G, and discs forming oppositely faced annular chambers adapted for the storage of articles which are later to be placed in the carriers or drums for vending.

The annular chambers may be divided into sections by radial plates 31, four of these radial plates being shown for each chamber and the chambers being thus divided into quadrants. Each of the chambers is open at its outer end, this open end lying in proximity to the glass I! of the dors so that the content of each of the storage chambers is fully visible from one or the other side f the machine. The flanges 32 are preferably secured to the sleeves 34 as by welding, and since neither the axle nor the flanges secured thereto are free to turn the storage chambers are likewise not free to turn and are not intended to turn.

Rotatably mounted on the opposite axle portions 3UA, 3il-B are flanges 40, these flanges being positioned between the inner of the flanges 32 and the center of the machine. Integrally secured to these flanges, as by welding, are discs 4| which lie behind the discs 35 and may contact therewith, though preferably they slightly clear so that friction between the discs is avoided. Extending outward from the discs 4|, and concentric with the sleeves 35 are cylindrical sleeves 42 which sleeves are integrally secured, as by welding, to the discs 4|. 43 are division plates which are spaced at equal intervals around the exterior of the sleeve 42 to provide around the periphery of the sleeve a number of equal sized pockets. The plates 43 are secured to the sleeves 42 and to the discs 41 as by welding. The annular structure thus formed is hereinafter sometimes termed a drum and is rotatable around the storage chamber before described. The discs 41 extend peripherally beyond the outer edges of the plates 43 and exterior to the plates are provided with notches 44, there being one notch for each plate or correspondingly for each of the pockets set off by these plates. The peripheral portions of the pockets and the end portions of these pockets away from the discs 4! are entirely open, these latter open ends lying in proximity to the glass panels I! of the doors so that the content of these pockets is likewise visible from the exterior of the casing.

Concentric with, but spaced slightly outward, from the radially outer edges of the plates 43 and the pockets formed thereby are arcuat-e plates 45, it which lie beneath the drum and extend around somewhat more than half of the periphery thereof, these plates confining articles in the pockets at points where they would otherwise roll or slide out. The continuity of the plates 45, 46 is interrupted at a point lying downward and forward from the axis of the drum to provide an opening 41 through which a pocket brought in register therewith may discharge. 50 is a discharge chute in alinement with this opening, this chute being of such width in plan immediately adjacent the discharge opening 41 that packages which discharge from the pockets of either of the drums may enter. The chute has a bottom 56 which forms substantially a continuation of one of the plates, as the plate 43A, which forms the bottom of the pocket then in register, and has side walls 52 which converge away from the drum toward the front of the casing. The chute thus formed converges downward as well as outward and discharges through a suitable opening 53 in the front Wall of the casing into an exterior continuation 54 of the chute from which the article can be removed by the customer.

The opening 53 is closed except during the passage of packages by doors 55, these doors being oppositely swung on hinges 56 and when closed substantially preventing escape of cold air from the interior of the casing. The doors may seat against an elastic gasket 51. Preferably the hinges 56 are any well known type of spring hinge through which closure of the doors is eflected. The bias of the hinges is such that the doors remain closed except when the package is discharged from either of the drums thereagainst, in which case the doors will automatically open to permit the passage of the package and after passage of such package will automatically reclose.

The two drums are entirely independent in their movements and their advancement is effected in substantially identical manner. There is provided for each of the drums a coin box 60 which has a slot Bl into which a coin may be introduced, such coin boxes being purchasable in the open market and forming no part of the present invention. Each coin box has a handle 62 which is connected through a shaft 63 to a grooved pulley 6-5. Disposed around the pulley 64 is a cord 65. The cord 65 leads over suitable pulleys 66 to a shiftable bar 61, the opposite ends 58 and 69 of the cord being connected to the opposite ends of this bar 61 in such manner that when the handle 62 is shifted, as to the rig-ht, the end 89 of the cord pulls the bar 61 toward the back of the casing, and when the handle is shifted reversely back to original position the end 88 of the cord pulls the bar 61 back to its original position.

The bar 67 is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots it and is slidably held against the frame member 27 as by headed pins or screws ll which pass through the slots 10 and are secured into the frame member 21. Secured to the bar Bl as by a pivot pin 12, is a ratchet pawl I3 which is adapted to engage successively with the notches 44 of the disc 4|. Pivotally secured to the ratchet 13, as by a pin 14, is an oppositely faced dog l5 likewise adapted to engage with the notches 44. 76 is a slide which supports the dog 15 against notch engagement during a portion of the backward movement, but terminates to permit such engagement as the backward stroke is completed.

A rocker arm 8& is pivotally secured to the axle support member 25 as by a pivot pin 8|, this arm having at one end an inwardly turned lug 82 forming a notch engaging detent, this detent being resiliently held in such engagement by a leaf spring and when so engaging preventing any movement of the drum. The arm 89 extends oppositely beyond the pivot pin M, the end 84 of this oppositely extending portion being disposed in the path of a cam 85 secured to or forming an integral portion of the bar 61 and being so positioned relatively thereto that it will be engaged by said cam and depressed to free said detent lug from notch engagement and hold same in such disengaged position until forward movement of said drum shall have moved the disengaged notch out of engage position.

86 is a latch engaging the drum notchessuccessively to prevent retrogressive movement of the drum.

The latch 86 is mounted on a pivot pin 81 which is carried by a bar 88, this bar, for convenience in assembling, being secured to and carried by the arm 80.

In ordinary use the side doors are unlocked and opened. When so opened both the end of the storage chamber and the ends of all the pockets are exposed and may be filled with articles to be vended. Usually all four quadrants of the storage chamber are so filled and all of the pockets except that one which is in discharge position opposite the chute 50. After filling the door is closed and locked and the opposite side of the case is similarly filled. It is usual then to start the refilling mechanism where the articles are to be chilled and to maintain refrigerating action for some time before the public is allowed access to the device. When the articles are sufficiently chilled customers approach the front of the machine and drop the proper coin in the slot 6|, then turn the handle 52 to the right as far as movement of the mechanism will permit. This movement of the handle shifts the bar 61 rearwardly, dragging the ratchet pawl 13 along the edge of the drum disc 4| and moving the oppositely faced dog 15 over the surface of the slide 16 until it drops off the end of that slide and eventually moves into notch engagement. During this movement the latch 86 and the detent 82 both prevent drum movement. However, as the dog 15 approaches notch engagement the cam 85 engages the end 84 of the arm 80 and disengages the lug 82, the latch 86 still preventing retrogressive drum movement, and in connection with the notch engagement of the dog 15 acting to limit backward movement of the bar 61. The customer having moved the handle 62 to the limit of its movement must bring the handle back to. its original position beforedrum advancement and delivery of the article can occur. As this backward movement starts the lug 82 is held out of notch engagement. The ratchet 13 has accomplished notch engagement and the forward shift of the bar 61 through the pull of the end 68 of the cord 65 begins the shift of the drum. As this shifting movement continues the cam 85 disengages on the end 8'4 of the rocker arm 30 and permits the spring 83 to hold the lug 82 against the face of the disc M in position to drop into the approaching notch and thus limit forward movement. When this shift approaches completion the division plate 43A approachesalinement with the bottom of the chute and as soon as the opening is sufficient the article resting on the plate 43--A drops, by gravity, into the chute and is discharged through the swinging doors 55 to the pocket 54 outside the case to complete the delivery. As the article starts to discharge from the drum pocket one end is substantially held against movement by the side wall 52 of the chute whereas the other end is entirely free to move out of the pocket and into the chute. The article therefore is caused to move toward alinement with the axis of discharge of the chute and to be discharged through the chute in such longitudinally alined' position.

It will be understood that the two sides of the case may be filled with identical or with differing merchandise as may be desired or conditions may warrant. If filled with dissimilar merchandise at customer may see at a glance through the glass door of the case just what merchandise each side of the case contains. Also he may see whether the dispensing drum is full or empty and will know before he deposits his coin whether there is an article in the drum which will be delivered to him. Likewise the proprietor may see at a glance whether the drums need replenishing or not. If replenishing is to be done, it is obvious that it will be done from the articles in the storage chamber, which articles should be sufiiciently chilled to be ready for vending. These articles are therefore removed from the storage chamber and placed in the vending drum and ordinarily the storage chamber is immediately refilled. Where the article vended is bottled goods the case is dimensioned toconform to the particular bottles which are to be dispensed.

It will be noted thatin the present example there are somewhat more than two dozen vending pockets and usually the capacity of the storage chamber is sufficient to hold some two dozen bottles. In most cases bottled goods are delivered in lots of two dozen so that each side of the machine as thus constructed will hold two cases originally and at each replenishment will take an additional case.

We claim:

1. A vending mechanism, including a casing having oppositely disposed side openings, and doors for effecting closure of said openings; an axle member, disposed transversely across said casing, frame means within said casing relatively transverse to said axle member and substantially at the center thereof, rigidly supporting said member with stub axle portions thereof projecting in opposite directions toward said casing doors; and drum and storage means in duplicate mounted on said stub axle portions; each said drum means beingrotatably mounted and adapted for manual actuation, and including a hub member rotatably mounted adjacent said frame means, on a respective said axle portion, a disc secured to and carried by said hub member, means carried by said disc adjacent its periphery establishing a plurality of pockets disposed in annular conformation, concentric with said axle, said pockets extending at right angles from said disc toward a said door, said pockets being open at the door end thereof; each said storage means including means forming a chamber lying annularly around a said axle portion within the circle of said pockets, and being rigidly mounted on said axle portion, said chamber being open adjacent said door; said door openings and said doors being of suflicient size to allow, when said doors are opened, free access to said pockets for filling thereof and to said storage chamber for filling same and removal of articlestherefrom.

2. A vending mechanism, including a casing having oppositely disposed side openings, and doors for effecting closure of said openings, an axle member disposed transversely across said casing, frame means within said casing relatively transverse to said axle member and substantially at the center thereof, rigidly supporting said member with stub axle portions thereof projecting in opposite directions toward said doors, and drum and storage means in duplicate mounted on said stub axle portions; each said drum means being rotatably mounted and adapted for actuation; said drum means including a member rotatably mounted on a said axle portion and extending radially therefrom adjacent said frame, means carried by said member and annularly spaced from said axle portion, establishing a plurality of pockets extending at right angles from said member toward a respective said door, said pockets being open adjacent said door; each said storage means including means establishing a chamber lying around a said axle portion within the circle of said pockets, and being rigidly mounted on said axle portion, said chamber being open adjacent its respective said door; said door openings being of sufficient size to allow, when said doors are opened, free access to said pockets for filling thereof and to said storage chamber for filling same and removal of articles therefrom.

3. A vending mechanism, including a casing having oppositely disposed side openings, and doors for effecting closure of said openings; an axle member disposed transversely across said casing, frame means within said casing transverse to said axle member and substantially at the center thereof, rigidly supporting said member with axle portions thereof projecting in opposite directions toward said casing doors; and drum and storage means in duplicate mounted on said axle portions; each said drum means being rotatably mounted and adapted for manual actuation, and including means rotatably mounted adjacent said frame means on .a respective said axle portion, means concentric with said axle carried by said rotatable means, establishing a plurality of annularly disposed pockets extending toward a said door, said pockets being open at the door end thereof; each related said storage means including means rigidly mounted on said axle portion forming a chamber lying annularly around said axle portion within the circle of said pockets, said chamber being open adjacent said door; said door openings and said doors being of sufficient size to allow, when said doors are opened, free access to said pockets for filling thereof and to said storage chamber for filling same and removal of articles therefrom.

a r 4. A vending mechanism, including a casing having oppositely disposed side openings, and doors for effecting closure of said openings; an axle member disposed transversely across said casing, frame means within said casing transverse to said axle member and substantially at the center thereof, rigidly supporting said member with axle portions thereof projecting in opposite directions toward said casing doors; and drum and storage means in duplicate mounted on said axle portions; each said drum means being rotatably mounted and adapted for manual actuation, and including means rotatably mounted adjacent said frame means on a respective said axle portion, means concentric with said axle portion carried by said rotatable means, establishing a plurality of annularly disposed Dockets extending toward a said door, said pockets being open at the door end thereof; each related said storage means including means rigidly secured on said axle portion forming a chamber lying annularly around said axle portion within the circle of said pockets, and means dividing said chamber into compartments, said compartments being open adjacent said door; said door openings and said doors being of sufficient size to allow, when said doors are opened, free access to said pockets for filling thereof and to said storage compartments for filling same and removal of articles therefrom.

5. A vending mechanism, including a casing having a side opening, and a door for effecting closure of said opening, an axle member disposed transversely across said casing, means within said casing for rigidly supporting said axle member with a portion thereof projecting toward said door, and drum and storage means mounted on said axle portion, said drum means being rotatably mounted and adapted for manual actuation, and including a member rotatably mounted on said axle portion and extending at right angles therefrom adjacent said supported end, means carried by said member and annularly spaced from said axle portion establishing a plurality of pockets extending at right angles from said member toward said door, said pockets being open adjacent said door; said storage means including means rigidly secured on said axle portion establishing a chamber lying annularly around said axle portion and within the circle of said pockets, said chamber being open adjacent said door; said door opening being of sufficient size to allow, when said door is opened, free access to said pockets for filling thereof and to said storage chamber for filling same and removal of articles therefrom.

LUE O. GARNER. FRED MONTESI. 

